Mayor Thomas M. Menino today announced that nominations for the 2013 Mayor’s Greenovate Boston Awards and Bike Friendly Business Awards will be extended by a week, to Friday, March 29. These awards recognize local sustainability and environmental awareness leaders in four different categories – Green Business, Green Residential, Sustainable Food Leadership and Bike Friendly Businesses.

“Through Greenovate Boston, the City of Boston continues to work closely with our residents, businesses and institutions to make Boston the greenest city in the country,” said Mayor Thomas M. Menino. “I look forward every year to celebrating the impressive work of our local environmental leaders and telling their story.”

After receiving a high volume of requests for an extension of the nomination period, the Mayor’s Office of Environmental and Energy Services will now be accepting nominations in the categories of Greenovate Business, Greenovate Residential, Sustainable Food Leadership and Bike Friendly Businesses until March 29.

Formerly known as the Mayor’s Green Awards, this year’s awards will reflect the adoption of Greenovate Boston, a collective movement and innovative approach to connect and motivate residents and businesses to reach Mayor Menino’s goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050. While the awards are in their seventh year, the Mayor will present this year’s on April 25 at ceremony that will coincide with the announcement of Greenovate Boston’s ambitious campaign for widespread community engagement.

“The Mayor’s Greenovate Boston Awards are just one way of recognizing and supporting our sustainability leaders,” said Brian Swett, Chief of Environment and Energy. “Greenovate Boston will further connect and engage the Boston community by creating a one-stop-shop for sustainability resources as well as a platform for empowering individuals, businesses and organizations to Greenovate throughout the community.”

Past Green Award ceremonies have recognized businesses for energy efficiency management, water conservation, utility benchmarking, historic preservation, adaptive building reuse and other sustainable practices. Residential awards may be given in the categories of Leadership, Energy, Alternative Transportation, Green Gardens and Trailblazer.

The Business awards recognize leaders from the commercial and non-profit sectors, as well as academic, cultural and healthcare institutions that demonstrate extraordinary performance regarding sustainability such as employee engagement, operations, renewable energy, stormwater management and innovation.

The Mayor’s Sustainable Food Awards will celebrate two leaders in the field of sustainable and healthy foods: those who provide our community with good food and those who provide a service in the sustainable and healthy food industry.

Mayor Menino's annual Bike Friendly Business Awards recognize companies that incorporate bike-friendly practices that encourage their employees or customers to ride their bikes. Gold, Silver and Bronze awards will be distributed at a special ceremony with Mayor Menino where the winner will receive a certificate and a “Bike Friendly Business” sticker to proudly display in his or her business.

Nominations for all categories will now be accepted until Midnight on Friday, March 29. The Mayor will present the awards during the afternoon of Thursday, April 25, at a location to be determined.